Vibrating comb support



Feb. 22, 1966 H. c. BRAUCHLA 3,236,379

VIBRATING CQMB SUPPORT Filed Sept. 4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HERBERT C. BRAUCHLA WWW ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 H. c. BRAUCHLA 3,236,379

VIBRAIING COMB SUPPORT Filed Sept. 4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HERBERT C. BRAUCHLA WW 522m ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 H. c. BRAUCHLA VIBRAIING COMB SUPPORT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 4, 1963 INVENTOR HERBERT C. BRAUCHLA ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 H. c. BRAUCHLA VIBRATING COMB SUPPORT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 4, 1963 INVENTOR HERBERT C. BRAUCHLA and ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 H. c. BRAUCHLA 3,236,379

VIBRATING COMB SUPPORT Filed Sept. 4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 n4 FIG. 5

INVENTOR HERBERT C. BRAUCH LA Wand $17285 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,236,379 VIBRATING COMB SUPPORT Herbert C. Brauchla, Oak Harbor Road, Box 349, Fremont, Ohio Filed Sept. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 306,472 3 Claims. ((Il. 209-247) The present application is related to applicants US. Patent Number 3,141,844, issued July 21, 1964, and entitled Method and Apparatus for Dry Sizing, as Well as co-pending application Serial No. 266,657 for Method for Stationary Sizing of Matter and application Serial No. 251,784 for Vibratory Sizing Apparatus.

The present invention relates to a transversely pivotable stand for use in supporting vibrating comb assemblies of the type employed in sizing apparatus.

In US. Patent No. 3,141,844 there is disclosed a method and apparatus for sizing of matter by advancing the matter to be sized through a horizontal plane while attacking the material to be sized by a plurality of transversely aligned and vibrating comb assemblies.

At the time of filing application Serial No. 223,626, now Patent No. 3,141,844, there had not been invented an adequate means for varying the transverse angular adjustment of the vibrating comb assembly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the plane of the material being advanced upon the conveyor for sizing. In application Serial No. 251,784 the problem is met by supporting the comb assembly upon a transversely pivotable bolster assembly. Shortcomings of pivoting the entire bolster plate have resulted from the vibrations induced by the comb assembly. These vibrations have worked against the necessarily close tolerances between bolster plate and headstand which were engineered to provide a measure of rigidity in the entire structure.

According to the present invention this difliculty is overcome by providing for pivotability of the entire stand rather than the vibrating comb portion thereof. According to the present invention the stand supporting the vibrating comb assembly, as well as comb drive and comb vibrating eccentric device, has a plurality of tubular legs extending from a top frame piece supporting the comb assembly. These tubular legs are mounted in individual foot portions which have arcuate slots. Beneath each foot portion there is provided a base plate having studs extending vertically through the arcuate slots of the foot portions. A transverse support channel may be provided between the opposed pairs of legs and the entire stand, less the base plates, may be pivoted transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of a conveyor supported thereunder by means of the foot portions engaging the vertically extendings studs.

Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide a transversely pivotable headstand for vibrating comb assemblies in a sizing apparatus.

Another object of invention is to provide a rigid, transversely pivotable headstand structure for sizing apparatus.

Yet, additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the headstand and vibrating comb assembly positioned about an endless belt conveyor upon which material to be sized is being advanced;

FIG. 2 is a top plan thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the vibrating comb assembly as supported in the yoke;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged end elevation partially in section showing the extensible positioning of the headstand top piece with respect to the upstanding tubular legs.

3,236,379 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 'ice In FIG. 1 conveyor assembly 10 is illustrated as extending through headstand 12 beneath dependent vibrating comb assembly 60. The conveyor assembly includes legs 26 and 54 secured to rectangular frame 22 by means of skirt elements 48. As indicated in phantom in FIG. 2, the conveyor top may be comprised of platen elements 24 extending longitudinally and ending short of rollers 16 and 18 about which belt 14 is rotated. Belt 14 is driven by means of conveyor motor 20 supported upon motor mounting 42 and connected to roller shaft 32, by means of belt 44.

Roller shaft 30 is longitudinally reciprocated in extension piece 58 by means of threaded bolt 36 about which nut 38 may be mounted. A belt cover 46, as illustrated in FIG. 2 may be provided for protecting drive belt 44 from the deleterious effects of dust and minute sized matter. The individual legs 26 and 54 may have foot portions 56 and may be laterally connected by beams 50 and struts 52.

Headstand 12 consists of upstanding tubular pipes or legs 66 secured at their tops by means of end pieces 68 and secured transversely at their bottom by channel tie 112. The individual legs 66 extend into foot portions 104, having arcuate slots 108 therein. Foot portions 104 are supported upon base plate 102 and have studs 106 which extend through arcuate slots 108. Additional rigidity in addition to weldment of the legs 66 to foot portion 104 is provided by upstanding plate 110 which may be fitted inside of the legs and Welded to foot portion 104. As illustrated in FIG. 6, an inner top plate 70 and an outer top plate 72 further provide rigidity between opposed members of each pair of legs 66 and support cylindrical guides 82. Aperture 74 extends through plates 70 and 72 and orients bolt 88, threaded portion in its extension through plates 70 and 72. A top guide housing top 76 and bottom 78 may be secured respectively to plates 72 and 70 by weldment. Top guide housing 76 secures caged bronze nut 84 which engages threaded portion 90. Shaft 88 is rotated by handwheel 86, effecting a vertical extensibility of the entire top plate 94 and surrounding, rectangular carriage 92. As will be apparent in FIG. 4, vertical end pieces 96 enhance the support of shaft 88 with respect to rectangular carriage 92. A flanged bushing 98 may be provided for insuring rigid support of shaft 88. A plurality of horizontal guide plates may also be supported beneath plate 96 for further insuring rigidity of support of carriage guide studs 80 which extend through cylindrical guide pieces 82. The comb head piece 114 is secured to top piece 94 by means of studs 116 which extend through mating bosses 122 on the top of head piece 114 and the bottom of top piece 94. Studs 116 extend up- 'wardly of top piece 94 where they are secured by means of a die-spring 118 and locknut assembly 120. This arrangement provides for vibratory suspension of the entire combing headpiece 114 within the confines of the headstand 12. Both the comb drive motor 124 and the eccentric motor 126 may be supported upon top piece 94 by means of suitable plates 142 or the like.

Motor 126 is connected via eccentric belt 132 to eccentric shaft 134 mounted in bearing blocks 136 which may be welded to chock plate 157 upon top piece 94. An eccentric drive 138 extends from eccentric shaft 134 to hardened alloy steel shaft 141 secured in clevis plate 140 which in turn extends through an aperture in top piece 94 and is welded to comb headpiece 114. Belt 132 may be positioned about pulleys 144 mounted on the motor shaft and eccentric shaft 134.

Comb sidepieces depend vertically from headpiece 114 to which they are secured by means of skirt elements 128. Sidepieces 130 and headpiece 114 define a yoke for suspension of the transverse comb shafts 148 and 150.

Sidepieces 130, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 support comb shafts 148 and suitable bearings therefor. Shaft 150 is mounted in comb take-up piece bearing block 152 which is made longitudinally extensible in side piece 130 by means of threaded bolt 154 so as to adjust the tensioning of the comb belt or chain 165. Belt or chain 165 is comprised of individual chain links 164 having side flanges 166 through which are secured top-welded tap screws 168 which extend through comb support angle 170 upon which the comb fitting pieces 172 are secured by means of bolt 176.

As in US. Patent No. 3,141,844, the individual comb teeth 174 may be comprised of piano wire or the like spaced one from the other at the desired intervals for sizing diiferent matter. A front and back vertical support 178 is attached for supporting threaded bolt 154 and a transverse bar (not illustrated) may be provided between side pieces 130 for giving transverse rigidity to the whole comb structure. Grease fitting points 158 may be employed on comb shaft hubs 160 and grease fitting point 156 may be employed atop eccentric mount 136.

- Manifestly substitution of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of invention, as defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for sizing of matter, comprising:

(A) an endless conveyor;

(B) means feeding matter to be sized upon said conveyor;

(C) a unitary top frame piece, including at least two legs depending therefrom having foot portions with arcuate slots;

(D) a base plate supported beneath each of said foot portions and having studs extending through said arcuate slots, said studs limiting horizontal pivotability of said foot portions and said legs;

(E) a comb assembly suspended from said top frame piece and including a plurality of spaced, transversely aligned radially extending comb fittings mounted upon a rotatable belt extending across said conveyor with its top and bottom portion parallel to said conveyor, said comb fittings having teeth with ends closer to said conveyor than said teeth are to each other; and

(F) reciprocating means attached to said belt so as to vibrate said comb fittings transversely of the longitudinal path of travel of said matter moving on said conveyor.

2. In a sizing apparatus of the type embodying a conveyor for advancing material to be sized in a horizontal plane beneath a vibrating comb assembly for attacking material to be sized, a vibrating comb assembly support, comprising:

(A) a unitary top frame piece together with side pieces from which said comb assembly, comprised of a plurality of spaced combs, is suspended, said top frame piece being provided with means for adjusting same vertically;

(B) at least two legs depending from said top frame piece, said legs terminating in foot portions having arcuate slots defining a channel for horizontal pivotability of said top frame piece in the range zero (0) to forty-five degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the material being advanced upon said conveyor; and

(C) a base plate supported beneath each of said foot portions and having studs extending through said arcuate slots, said studs limiting horizontal pivotability of said foot portions and said legs.

3. A vibrating comb assembly support as in claim 2,

including eccentric vibrating means mounted on said top frame piece and connected to said comb assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,330,967 2/1920 Winters 198230 1,854,832 3/1932 Gastonguary 248--13 X 2,551,123 5/1951 Heller l98230 2,681,137 6/1954 Davis 198-230 3,139,975 7/1964 Schaeffer 198230 FOREIGN PATENTS 635,488 12/1927 France.

765,866 l/ 1957 Great Britain.

774,461 6/ 1957 Great Britain.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

R. HALPER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR SIZING OF MATTER, COMPRISING: (A) AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR; (B) MEANS FEEDING MATTER TO BE SIZED UPON SAID CONVEYOR; (C) A UNITARY TOP FRAME PIECE, INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO LEGS DEPENDING THEREFROM HAVING FOOT PORTIONS WITH ARCUATE SLOTS; (D) A BASE PLATE SUPPORTED BENEATH EACH OF SAID FOOT PORTIONS AND HAVING STUDS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ARCUATE SLOTS, SAID STUDS LIMITING HORIZONTAL PIVOTABILITY OF SAID FOOT PORTIONS AND SAID LEGS; (E) A COMB ASSEMBLY SUSPENDED FROM SAID TOP FRAME PIECE AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED, TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED RADIALLY EXTENDING COMB FITTINGS MOUNTED UPON A ROTATABLE BELT EXTENDING ACROSS SAID CONVEYOR WITH ITS TIP AND BOTTOM PORTION PARALLEL TO SAID CONVEYOR, SAID COMB FITTINGS HAVING TEETH WITH ENDS CLOSER TO SAID CONVEYOR THAN SAID TEETH ARE TO EACH OTHER; AND (F) RECIPROCATING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID BELT SO AS TO VIBRATE SAID COMB FITTINGS TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINAL PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID MATTER MOVING ON SAID CONVEYOR. 